Inpatient ward at Rothbury hospital temporarily closed

Janet Hall

The inpatient ward at Rothbury Community Hospital has been closed for three months due to a fall in patient numbers.

NHS Northumberland Clinical Commissioning Group and Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust announced today that the 12-bed inpatient ward has temporarily closed to admissions for three months.

The Trust has discussed the temporary closure with staff, who will be redeployed.

All other services that operate from the hospital will continue as normal, such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, out-patient, child health clinics and community paramedic services.

A joint statement from the Commissioning Group and Foundation Trust says: ‘Changes in the way we now care for patients means people are more likely to receive on-going care at home and this has meant that the community hospital beds at Rothbury have been underused for some time with around only half the beds being normally occupied.

‘The temporary closure has been discussed by Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust with the staff based at Rothbury Community Hospital and the trust are looking to redeploy these staff.

‘We will be working with patients and their families affected by this change in Rothbury to make appropriate arrangements.

‘Our priority is ensuring that all of our patients in Northumberland receive the highest quality care possible. The situation is being monitored closely throughout the temporary closure period and will be fully reviewed in November.’